NORTH AMERICAN BISON (BUFFALO) & THE INDIAN NATIONS OF THE GREAT PLAINS

importance of the buffalo

United States Library of Congress. Luther Standing Bear. 1891.

The buffalo was so important to the American Indian that they only killed what they needed.

“The Indian was frugal in the midst of plenty. When the Buffalo roamed the Plains in multitudes, he killed only what he could eat and these he used to the hair and bone.” Luther Standing Bear

(December 1868-February 20, 1939) Ota Kte (Luther Standing Bear), was an Oglala Lakota chief notable as a Native American author, educator, philosopher, and actor of the 20th century. Standing Bear fought to preserve Lakota heritage and sovereignty and was at the forefront of a Progressive movement to change government policy towards Native Americans.

Page Jump1Essential Question2Learning Goal3New Vocabulary Words4Minnesota Prairie5Ecological Provinces of Minnesota6United States Great Plans – Plains Map7Living on the Great Plains – Tribal Nations8Living on the Great Plains - Buffalo9Hunting the Great Plains – Slide Show 10Importance of the Buffalo –Luther Standing Bear11Importance of the Buffalo12Uses of the Buffalo13Honoring The Buffalo14Loss of the Buffalo - Slaughter of the Buffalo15Loss of the Buffalo – Westward of Expansion –Slide Show16Losing the Buffalo – United State Government17Losing the Buffalo – Military 18Losing the Buffalo – Railroad19Losing the Buffalo – 1868-188120Losing the Buffalo – American Indian Loss of Land21Losing the Buffalo – Efforts to Save the Buffalo22Losing the Buffalo Link – Intertribal Buffalo Council23Story – The Passing of the Buffalo24The Passing of the Buffalo Story Questions25Essential Question - Review26Learning Goal – Review27Extension of Learning Link – Lakota Winter Count Lesson Plan – Winter Count